The Pagan High Festivals

The High Festivals
Mythic Fantasy Role-playing Game
The ulan Calendar

Walaskelbio Walaskelbijo Valaskjlfr
K emenaberga Hemenaberga Himinnbj rg
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
Landawt us LandawduR - Landvi
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
8 25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
Sinkwabankis SinkwabankiR Skkvabekkr
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
ruo kaimas ruo haimaR - r heimr
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
Braido blika Brai o blika Brei ablik
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
N owaduno N o wat una N at un
Glt nias Glt nijaR Glt nir
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
Pulkawangis FulkawangiR Fo lkvangr
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
Albo kaimas AlbahaimaR Alfheimr
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
8 13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
rmakaimas rmahaimaR rmheimr
Gladaskaimas Gla ashaimaR Gla sheimr

Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
N uhieradagas N uhierasdagaR N yt t rsdagr
wadalas wadalaR dalir

Sun-
Mon-
Tues-
Wednes-
Thurs-
Fri-
Satur-
day
day
day
day
day
day
day
1
8
15
22
2
9
16
23
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1 or 2 days
8 = Solstice
= Equinox
Winter Darkness
Midnight Sun
Page 219
The High Festivals
Rather than just describe the high festivals in ul we
from a sacred source) is placed next to or under the
need to separate between the Religious and the
head of the dead person, to protect him from
Traditional high festivals, and sometimes also between
malevolent spirits trying to possess his body. The
old and new practises.
malevolent spirits are very stupid and can only count to
Life
three, so if more than three corns or pebbles are placed
Cultural
in the jar they will be too busy trying to count all the
Stance Background
Combination known as
satr Veir
The Old Religion (s)
satr Byggjandi
The Religion (o)
Seir Veir
The Old Tradition ()
Seir Byggjandi
The Tradition ()
corns/pebbles to ever be able to possess the body.

Whenever they count three corns or pebbles they have
to start all over again, and are thus kept busy for all
eternity. Individuals not buried with such a jar next to or
under their heads are easily possessed by malevolent
Before all (both Traditional and Religious) high

festivals the (in Traditional communities) May Queen
or (in Religious communities) the youngest Maenad
leads a procession of men and women, boys and girls,
collecting food for the celebration (but no meat is
collected if there is a lent). All men and boys wear
womens clothing (robes) and all women and girls men's
clothing on the upper body (to symbolize the
androgynous spirits). This custom is archaic, but is still
practised.
spirits. See the spells Create Wight and Create Nr.

Birthday (for each deity) (s o)
Ancient ulan: Poengadagas
Old ulan: FoengadagaR
ulan: Fingardagr
All the Religious birthdays are celebrated in the same
manner. Everyone dances and sings around the burial
mounds and the deity (i. e. a priest or priestess
impersonating the deity) rises from a burial mound when
the Sun rises that day.
A May pole, a so-called high, is also always erected on

the high festivals (hence the name; high festival) and
everyone eats well, and (unless there is a lent) they also
sing and dance.
The Tradition
Hallow Evening (alias Samhain) ()
On the night of the 1st of Walaskelbi, New Year's
Day to Sunday morning and until Sunrise the 9th day
Wedding (s o)
of Walaskelbi.
Ancient ulan: Bruhdihlaupo
Ancient ulan: Kawlauge aptanas ("the evening
Old ulan: Brudihlaupa
when you see the important/high")
ulan: Brlaup
Old ulan: Hawlauge aptanaR
All normal weddings are carried out just like the high
ulan: Hlgi aptann
festival Valborg's Night, and always on a Sunday.
In order to get a name for themselves and become real
Most normal weddings are held on Valborg's Night.
men (finally removing the -12 mod to Healing given to

them) the Traditional children of ul need to go
Burial (s o)
through an initiation. See the Autumnal Equinox.
Ancient ulan: Kaunapore
(Religious children automatically get rid of this when
Old ulan: Haugforija
they are defined as adults, i. e. when they are around
ulan: Haugfra
All normal burials are carried out just like the burial of
15-16 years old.)
the summer/Belus on the high festival Winter Night
Those who have no mistletoe must wait until the next
Ship, and always on the 1 Sunday after the 1 full
years Hallow Evening before they can go through this
Moon after death. If placed in a burial mound, a jar with
initiation.
st
st
corn or pebbles (collected on the Summer Solstice

Page 220
The High Festivals
They dress up to look like the dead and travel to the
womb in order for her to give birth to them later on. If
burial caves or burial mounds (i. e. man-made caves) to
they manage to kill a bear or another predatory animal
collect the weapons and other valuable possessions
within nine days, before Sunrise on the 9th day of
the dead were buried with. ul is a culture based on
Walaskelbi, they have been chosen, and they take the
Hamingja (meaning "luck" and "honour", from Ancient

ulan Hamagange, "shape walking"), meaning they
skull (i. e. the mind and spirit) of the dead person in the
believe in reincarnation, but only the good and
ability to walk and run [=to live]) of the killed
honourable dead are reborn, because only the good
bear/animal.
and honourable are chosen to be reborn by the

children, who go into the burial mounds to collect the
properties of the dead they choose to become. The
children who aspire to become real men must:
I. Blow in a (bronze) lure or whistle to open up the gate
surrounding the burial mound.
burial mound and the thigh-bone (i. e. the life-force, the
The chosen are no longer considered to be alive, since

they symbolically killed themselves and entered the
realm of death, so they sleep in the burial mound, all the
time dressed in the hides of the animals they killed, until
Yule, and only leave during the day to hunt and forage
although they are often fed by their kin as well, who
II. Hang their clothes in the tree growing on the burial

mound as a symbol of their own death.
leave beer and porridge and the like on the burial

mound for the ones inside. Those who fail to kill a
predatory animal will instead return to (ordinary) life by
III. Slaughter a cow on the burial mound.
putting back on the clothes they hung in the sacrificial
IV. Use the mistletoe (=the life force of the best,
tree, to regain the life force they had before they
purest, most innocent and most honourable [oak] spirit)
entered the realm of death. They will have to wait until
as a key to gain access to the burial mound. They bring
next year's Hallow Evening to be given a new chance
this to show that they are pure and innocent and that
to become real men.
they have killed the honourable child in them, and they

are now ready to become real men. They must enter
naked and unprotected.
V. The children who have the courage to go through all
of this meet a blood-stained (from the slaughtered
cow's blood) woman dressed in a bear skin, playing the
role of the she-bear spirit in the realm of death (i e. the
grave), teaching them secret and sacred verses and
riddles that they need to memorize and solve in order to
become real men.
Bear Evening ()
On the night of the 9th of Walaskelbi
Ancient ulan: Bernukwildas
Old ulan: BernukwildaR
ulan: Bjrnakveldr
This is seen as the day the pregnant she-bear
hibernates and because of that it is no longer possible
for any children to be chosen by her. There is no
longer any direct contact between the living and those
inside the burial mound. The she-bear actress leaves
VI. They leave the burial mound after the first night
there to hunt (for followers of the Old Tradition only)
adult male bears or (to followers of the New Tradition)
any predatory animal, to dress the dead person that
they have chosen to be reborn as in a (bear) skin, so
that he can impregnate the she-bear. When the
hunters need to rest during this Wild Hunt they return
to the burial mound and learn more from the she-bear
spirit. They also sleep there; they need to be in her
the grave. The children are left to fend for themselves.

Yule (Wheel) ()
From the night of the 25th of Kemenaberga to the
night of the 8th of Landawtus
Ancient ulan: Wehl
Old ulan: Wela.
ulan: Jl
Is made up of the high festivals Winter Solstice and
Fire Tasting Day and the days inbetween.
Page 221
The High Festivals
Winter Solstice ()
Fire Tasting Day ()
On the night of the 25. Kemenaberga
On the night of the 8th day of Landawtus
Ancient ulan: Witraswilihwarb
Ancient ulan: Eldbirgedagas
Old ulan: Witrasuwilihwarba.
Old ulan: EldabirgedagaR
ulan: Vetraslhvarf
ulan: Eldbjrgdagr
The female bear is said to give birth to her cubs on the
The lady of the house walks three times around the
Winter Solstice, so just as the Sun rises on the
house widdershins with a juniper ( juniperus communis)
Winter Solstice morning and enters the innermost
wand and declares (with song) that all the spirits of the
burial chamber the lady of the house walks three times
dead not belonging there have been sent back to the
around the house deasils with a pine ( pinus sylvestris)
realm of death.
wand and declares (with song) that all the spirits of the
dead are welcome home again. The children (or rather
The Sun is starting to grow stronger, after Winter
those still alive...) who were left to sleep in the burial
Solstice, and the lady drinks beer from a bowl and
mounds and fend for themselves after Hallow Evening
throws the rest into the fire before she says something
return home; they are re-born, by the she-bear as the
like: So high my fire, and not higher or hotter, to make
Seimar tears their bear costumes off them (to signal
sure the Sun's fire does not become too strong and
that they are no longer in the she-bear's womb) and
burns up the entire world.
they put back on their clothes (still hanging in the

sacrificial tree). The children who didn't survive this
All Heart's Day ()
ordeal are collected and cremated by the she-bear
On the night of the 22nd day of Sinkwabankis
actress.
Ancient ulan: Alrurhertdagas
The children are gathered and escorted (or if

cremated; carried in some sort of a container) by the
local Seimar and they travel around to their
respective homes, until the Seimar has delivered
them all to their parents, along with the gifts they
brought from the burial mound. The gifts collected by
those cremated are instead returned to the entrance of
the burial mound where they collected them (to be
collected by others who may wish to be reborn as the
dead resting inside). They eat the food placed on the
tables especially for them and are allowed to sleep in
their parents' beds (who sleep on the floor this night).
Old ulan: AlrurhertudagaR

ulan: Allrahjartudagr
This day is seen as the day the birds start to mate.
The birds are seen as manifestations of the spirits.
This is the day all spirits fall in love; in the realm of
death, on the Earth, under the surface of the Earth
and in the Sky. Those in love give a romantic gift to
the one they love.
White Sunday Week (alias Imbolc) ()
From the night of the 1st to the night of the 7th day of
rukaimas
The children who return are named after the person

they chose to be reborn as and are finally seen as real
men. The noble dead has returned. In the days until
Fire Tasting Day they walk around from house to
house to greet their neighbours and introduce
themselves with their new names. They receive food
items as gifts and it is a great shame not to give
Ancient ulan: Kwetsunuweke

Old ulan: Hwetasunuwekn
ulan: Hvtasunnuvika
White Sunday Week is made up of White Sunday,
White Queen Monday, White Tuesday, Ash
Wednesday, Cleaning Thursday, Long Friday and
Dirty Saturday.
anything to these brave children.

Page 222
The High Festivals
White Sunday ()
an apple to the one she thinks is the most beautiful one
On the night of the 1 day of rukaimas
amongst them. The most beautiful one is declared the
Ancient ulan: Kwetsunudagas
May Bride. She also decides who is the second most
Old ulan: HwetasunudagaR
beautiful of them, who will become the May Maiden.
ulan: Hvtasunnudagr
NB! Female player characters are adults, so they can
This is the first day of spring and everyone has their
not become May Queens.
st
behinds whipped with birch branches, to transfer the

strength of nature to man; to make everyone strong and
To win the right to challenge and perhaps replace the
to purify them.
May King and marry (and kiss) the May Bride the
noble men must bring their own mistletoes, collected
White Queen Monday ()
from an oak tree on the Autumnal Equinox. This is
On the night of the 2nd day of rukaimas
their key to the arena, the life force of the May King
Ancient ulan: Kwetdrontinadagas
that they need to bring to make him vulnerable to them.
Old ulan: HwetadruntinasdagaR
See the spell Mistletoe.
ulan: Hvtadrttinadagr
The whole day is spent collecting pork, eggs and
All the May King's challengers and the May King
baked goods for the great bride's race. Everyone
himself competes in a number of games, including ring
dresses in white and the ladies and girls wear many-
games (knight's games), spell-casting competitions,
coloured ribbons and flower garlands. The party
word games, knowledge games and the like. The one
travels from farm to farm, dancing and singing as they
who wins the most games becomes the May Groom.
travel. The May King and the May Queen are riding
The one who comes in second place becomes the May
a wagon. When they stop to ask for food donations
Groom Boy. If there is a tie the two best men need to
the May Queen is the one doing the talking. The
decide who is to become the winner by engaging in a
ladies and girls sing "Bride, bride, most beautiful bride",
wrestling or boxing match. The May King only needs
to invite all beautiful noble maidens (i. e. the girls who
to participate in these games if there is at least one
have not yet menstruated) to the bride's race, and the
challenger, but if there is at least one he must
men encourage all noble Seimenn (who are the only
participate. Only adults (i. e. those reborn with a
ones who can challenge the May King in the first place)
name from an honourable dead) can challenge the May
they meet to show up. The men and boys wear women's
King. The May Groom and the May Bride are
clothes (robes) and the women and girls men's clothes
betrothed.
on the upper body, to represent the androgynous

spirits of nature.
The May Queen represents the youthful strength

and innocence of nature, so she can not menstruate or
White Tuesday ()
in any other way bleed, or else nature will suffer. So
On the night of the 3rd day of rukaimas.
she will be replaced by one who has not bled the
Ancient ulan: Kwetdiwadagas
moment she for some reason bleeds. If the May King
Old ulan: HwetatiwadagaR
grows old and weak the innocent nature he protects will
ulan: Hvtatysdagr
A carnival (Latin: "farewell to the meat") is arranged
and all the food collected the day before is eaten. The
noble maidens arrange a bride's race, a beauty contest,
be vulnerable, so he needs to be tested and if

necessary be replaced by younger and stronger men
every year.
between them. A girl or woman chosen by lottery gives

Page 223
An undeserved insult doesn't bite much.
The High Festivals
Ash Wednesday ()
Nature's fertility is celebrated and all nobles with a new
On the night of the 4. rukaimas
name (i. e. those who are given a new name on the
Ancient ulan: Askudagas
Winter Solstice and are seen as reborn dead) are
Old ulan: AskudagaR
given the right to vote. Everyone stops lighting candles
ulan: skudagr
or oil lamps in the evening and go to bed at Sunset.
The lent starts and lasts until Easter (the 22 day of

nd
Braidblika). Everyone puts ash in their hair and

abstain from eating meat until Easter. Everyone
dresses in their darkest clothes and do not sing, play
music or dance until the lent ends.
Easter ()
On the night of the 22nd day of Braidblika to the 25th
day of Braidblika
Ancient ulan: Eus
Old ulan: AustaR
Cleaning Thursday ()
ulan: Austr
The Easter morning (the 22nd day of Braidblika) is
Ancient ulan: Skrdunadagas
seen as the day summer returns after winter. Everyone
Old ulan: SkraunadagaR
celebrates by travelling into the mountains to watch the
ulan: Skrarsdagr
Unnamed domestic animals and unnamed children are
named this day and the children are given five strokes
with a birch branch on their behinds, to make them
strong and to purify them.
Sunrise. It is customary to bring round stones and

build beacons, to help the round Sun rise high and fly
across the firmament. Eggs and all the dried fruit and
berries and other candy left after winter are eaten.
Summer has returned, bringing new fruit, and therefore
Long Friday ()
one can freely enjoy the fruits of nature again.
Procession Day Weekend ()
Ancient ulan: Langapridagas
On the night of the 26th day of Braidblika to the
Old ulan: LangafraujudagaR
night of the 28th day of Braidblika
ulan: Langfreyjudagr
The children are given five more strokes with a birch
branch on their behinds, to make them strong and to
purify them. No one is allowed to eat anything until
Sunset and everyone must work the whole day.
Is made up of Procession Day, Second Day Summer
On the night of the 26th day of Braidblika
Ancient ulan: Sketenkaimadaladagas
Ancient ulan: Gangdagas/Sumardagas
Old ulan: SketenahaimadaladagaR
Old ulan: GangadagaR/SumaradagaR
ulan: Skitinlaugardagr
On this day they all wash themselves and their homes
particularly well. The spring has come and you are to
On the night of the 1st day of Braidblika
ulan: Gangdagahelgr
Procession Day/Summer Day ()
Vernal Equinox ()
Old ulan: GangadagahalgaR
and Third Day Summer.
Dirty Saturday ()
meet it with respect.
Ancient ulan: Gangadagahalgas
ulan: Gangdagr/Sumardagr
The lady of the house/May Queen leads a
procession of maidens, decorated with flower garlands.
She rides a wagon and is pulled three time around the
fields, to ask the spirits of nature for good crops.
Ancient ulan: Waharebnadgrie
If you fear death, you are already dead.
Old ulan: Waharebnadgrija

ulan: Vrjafndgri
Page 224
The High Festivals
She carries a torch, to scare away the harmful spirits
King, by slashing an idol with a sword, before he can
and she waters the fields with water from a sacred
himself become the May King. When he does so, he
source. She places food and beer to the spirits of the
swears an oath to do something spectacular (known as
field, who eat and drink this in the form of animals.
a winner's promise). The May Groom must then do
Finally she digs a small hole in the ground and pours
what he promised to do, if he becomes the new May
some corn of all types into the hole. She mixes it with
King. The force and power of the old May King is
eggs and stirs with a yew or spruce wand. She then
then transferred (from the old May King) to the May
sings a song (i. e. casts a spell):
Groom, who becomes the new May King when he pulls

the sword from the wooden idol. If the May Groom is
"Wake up, wake up, both field and meadow,

you have slept for a long time now
unable to get it out (using his right hand only, testing

Str against a random DD [see Skills]) (to see if the
we have seen both rain and snow

the summer night has come now."
spirits are happy with his victory) the May Groom Boy
can try, and if he succeeds (against a new random DD)
Second Day Summer ()
he will become May King instead. If the May Groom
On the night of the 27 day of Braidblika
Boy too fails the others who participated in the bride's
Ancient ulan: Anaradagas sumar
race can try. The one who succeeds will become the
Old ulan: AnaradagaR sumaran
new May King and he then must do what the May
ulan: Annaradagr sumar
Groom promised to do when he slashed the idol and
What was done on the Procession Day/Summer Day
swore his oath. This is how the spirits of nature choose
is repeated.
their King.
th
Third Day Summer ()
The new May King gets the Stamina proficiency of
the old May King / 3 (rounded up) as a mod to his
Ancient ulan: redegadas sumar
Stamina skill when he pulls his sword from the wooden
Old ulan: rededagaR sumaran
idol. He will keep this mod until he is replaced (i. e.
ulan: rijadagr sumar
symbolically killed) by a new May King.
th

is repeated.
The old May Queen is also symbolically killed: a

wooden idol or a figure of a woman made of straw
Great Procession Day ()
representing her, is burned, and her power and title is
On the night of the 8 day of Nwadun
transferred to the May Bride when she takes the
Ancient ulan: Kawgangadagas
sacred cup from the old May Queen.
th
Old ulan: HawgangadagaR
The old May couple continues a normal life after they
ulan: Hrgangdagr
is repeated.
have been replaced, or (if they were bad kings and

queens) they are banished from the realm and must live
like hermits in the wilderness (i. e. become a part of the
Valborg's Night (alias Beltane) ()
untouched nature that they represented) for the rest
of their lives. On the Hallow Evening the former May
Ancient ulan: Walpurgisnes ("The Night on the
Queens enter the burial mounds in their realms and
Mountain of the Chosen/Fallen")
teaches young men the secrets.
th
Old ulan: Walabergasnahti

ulan: Valbjrgsntt
The May Groom first (symbolically) kill the old May
Page 225
The High Festivals
On this day the May Groom and May Bride, who
poison, disease and curse effects are removed.
were betrothed on the White Tuesday, marry. They
Pregnant women who drink a dose of water (or other
are now declared (new) May King and May Queen
drink) from this cup are more (+D6 mod) likely to
respectively, and take over the seats from the old May
survive childbirth (Con test against DD 9). Normally
couple; they take over the power of the realm and are
the May Queen only lets important individuals of her
named after the tribe they now govern. See the Sol
own tribe drink, and she serves them according to their
Invictus comment (page 115). They are seen as
rank (with the May King drinking first).
married until the next May couple takes over but it is

only a symbolic marriage. Their marital duties are only
related to the Tradition. Their main function is to
serve the people with their attributes and to lead
processions and other high festivals.
The
attributes
axe/club/hammer
of
the
May
(or sceptre),
King
are:
the
symbolizing
the
strength and firmness of Earth (in particular gravity);

the crown/halo, symbolizing the power of the Sun; and
the sword, symbolizing the lightning transferring the
Sun's power from the sky to Earth. He transfers the
blessing of the Sky with his sword, and he can bless
Together the May couple has power over all the most
important forces of nature: Health, Sunlight and Rain.
NB! A Seimar will be able to use a sword without
consequence if he is a May King.
This is also the day of marriage, and everyone who is
to marry usually marries on this day. They swear their
oaths on a rock/hammer or a ring and the ceremony is
led by the May Queen or her mother/sister (when she
marries the May King) or the May Princess (if the
May Queen is dead). When old May couples keep
their power from year to year they re-new their oaths
men by placing his sword on their shoulders (giving
on this day.
them +1 DV and OV until the May King has been
The May Groom Boy and the May Maiden become
killed/replaced). Normally a May King only blesses

his own Hir (see Bands, Cults & Organisations).
His axe/club/hammer has a D6 + 1 bonus to weapon
damage, but only when used by him. The crown gives
the wearer a -4 Fright mod and also a +4 mod to the
spell Manipulate Weather, but only when worn by the
rightful May King. See Weather & Wind (The Land
of ul). At command, the crown can also shine
May Prince and May Princess on this day, but they do

not (even symbolically) marry each other. They work as
"stand-ins" for the May King and the May Queen and
will replace them if they die.
A married man no longer needs to look for a bride, so
to farmers this day also marks the transition from
hunting time to sowing time.
brightly when worn by him, and will then light up a 150'

radius area around him (forcing those facing him to
fight as if in direct sunlight. See Illumination under
Combat Modifications (Combat Rules). NB! He can
use these attributes when competing on the White
Tuesday.
The
attribute
of
the
May
Queen
is
the
cauldron/cup/drinking horn, which she uses to pour

good health over the world. Everyone who drinks from
it gets D6 injury levels reduced (effect after D6
minutes) if injured, gets a +2D6 mod to Poison and
Disease resistance until the next waning Moon, and all
Page 226
A just war is better than unjust peace.
The High Festivals
Cuckoo Day ()
This day is celebrated just like Valborg's Night, only
the old May King is already killed, and the May
Ancient ulan: Gaukdagas
Groom and May Bride are already married now so
Old ulan: GaukadagaR
they just confirm their marriage by renewing their
ulan: Gaukdagr
contract.
The spirits (in the form of birds) speak to man on this
Bear Wake ()
th
day and tell him how the year will be. If he hears the
cuckoo in the North everything will go according to his
will. If he hears it in the South he will harvest in dry
weather. If he hears it in the West someone in his kin
will die or fall sick. If he hears it in the East it means
happiness in marriage.
the old May King is already killed, and the May
Groom and May Bride are already married now so
they just confirm their marriage by renewing their
contract.
On this day the bear wakes up and leaves his lair.

This day is the first day of the legal discussions at the
ing (parliament) where only the nobles with a right to
vote can (and are obliged to) attend. The ing lasts
until the end of Gltnias.
White Sunday ()
ulan: Hvtasunnudagr
Old ulan: Hawwalabergasnahti
NB! This day is called by the same name as the White
ulan: Hrvalbjrgsntt
the May Groom and May Bride are already married
now and they just confirm their marriage by renewing
their contract.
Sunday of the White Sunday Week!

their contract. White Sunday marks the end of Easter.
Elven Fire (alias Beltane) ()

On the night of the 6th day of Gltnias, the 13th day of
Gltnias, the 20th day of Gltnias, the 27th day of
Gltnias, the 6th day of Pulkawangis, the 13th day of
Pulkawangis, the 20th day of Pulkawangis, the 27th day
of Pulkawangis, the 6th day of Albkaimas, the 13th
day of Albkaimas, the 20th day of Albkaimas, the
27th day of Albkaimas, the 6th day of Gladaskaimas,
the 13th day of Gladaskaimas, the 20th day of
Gladaskaimas, the 27th day of Gladaskaimas, the 6th
day of rmakaimas, the 13th day of rmakaimas and
ulan: Alfaeldr
ulan: Bjrnvaka
Ancient ulan: Kawwalpurgisnes
Old ulan: AlbaeldaR
Old ulan: Bernuwaka
On the night of the 27. Nwadun
Ancient ulan: Alboeldas
Ancient ulan: Bernuwak
On the night of the 15th day of Gltnias
Great Valborg's Night ()
the 20th day of rmakaimas
The summer and everything in the summer has now

returned after winter.
Source Drinking ()
On the night of the 1st day of Pulkawangis
Ancient ulan: Kildodrenko
Old ulan: Kildadrenka
ulan: Keldadrikka
Figures resembling goats (made of leaves) are placed
by the sacred sources. The water you drink on this day
heals diseases (giving a +2D6 mod to Disease
resistance and a new test against the PL of the disease
to see if the disease is neutralised [no adverse
consequences are possible!]) and wounds (1 dose of
water drunk reduces the injury level by one after D6
minutes).
Page 227
The High Festivals
It is possible to collect water from the sacred sources
pebbles) is regarded as disrespectful of nature and is
for later use. Collecting more than a waterskin (able to
frowned upon (and anyone who does so can not cast
hold 2 cans/64 doses) is regarded as disrespectful of
any spells at all until all the pebbles [or an equal amount
nature and is frowned upon (and anyone who does so
of gold nuggets] have been cast back into a sacred
can not cast any spells until all the water has been
source).
spent/wasted).
Water drunk from a sacred source on the Summer
Pregnant women who drink a dose of water from the
Solstice night has the same effect as water drunk
sacred source are more (+D6 mod) likely to survive
during Source Drinking. See the high festival Source
childbirth (Con test against DD 9).
Drinking. This day is also an Elven Fire.
() The lady of the house/May Queen leads a
procession of maidens, decorated with flower garlands.
She rides a wagon and is pulled three time around the
their contract.
fields, to cleanse the fields and protect them from the

newly awoken winter spirits. She carries a torch, to
Summer Solstice ()
scare away the harmful spirits and she waters the fields
On the night of the 13th day of Pulkawangis
with water from a sacred source. She places food and
Ancient ulan: Sumarasowilihwarb
beer to the spirits of the field, who eat and drink this in
Old ulan: Sumarasuwilihwarba
the form of animals. Finally she digs a small hole in the
ulan: Sumarslhvarf
Bonfires are lit along the coast, and everyone dances
around the burial mounds. The May Queen and other
maidens undress and walk into the water. When they
ascend from the sea with the reflection of the many
ground and pours some corn (or eggs) of all types into
the hole. She (mixes it with eggs and) stirs with a yew
or spruce wand. She then sings a song (i. e. casts a
spell):
bonfires on their wet skin (an image of a necklace of fire)
"I clean the filth from my field now,
they represent the (re-)born youth of nature and in
to make it both clean and nice,

and I place in it a juniper bough,
to keep it healthy and strong."
particular the Sun, born by the sea.

All the maidens then jump naked through the flames of
the bonfires to prove their courage and to be purified
The Day of Cleaning and Waking up () (alias
by the revitalized Sun (the sacred fire).
Syftesokdag)
Herbs have a special power on the Summer Solstice;
Ancient ulan: Swiptasinkwodagas ("Sink into
herbs collected this day give a +9 mod for Seimenn

brewing potions (using the skill Alchemy). Pebbles
collected from the bottom of sacred sources have great
power as well and can be used by Seimenn to make it
easier for them to cast spells. Only one pebble can be
used at the time. When a Seimar casts a spell using
such a pebble he needs to spend one less SP. If
casting a spell with PL 1 by the help of such a pebble
On the night of the 22nd day of Pulkawangis

water and purify day")
Old ulan: SwibtasinkwadagaR
ulan: Syftasokdagr
their contract.
he spends no SP at all.
() The lady of the house/May Queen leads a
Collecting more than a full pouch (able to hold 32
Solstice.
procession of maidens just like on the Summer
Page 228
The High Festivals
Harvest Sacrifice (alias Lughnassadh & Sltteblot)
wreath made of sheaves of corn. The last corn
()
harvested is used for this.
On the night of the 15 day of Albkaimas

th
Winter Night Ship ()
Ancient ulan: Slantupluto
Usually on the night of the 22nd day of wadalas
Old ulan: Slantubluta
Ancient ulan: Witranesuskai
ulan: Slttublt
This day marks the beginning of the harvest. The corn
spirit (in the form of a goat made from straw) is killed
and chopped into seven or fourteen pieces, or it is
burnt, and the remains are buried in the field or the four
corners of the field1. The first straw cut down is used
to make a new straw goat for next year's Harvest
Sacrifice.
1Like an image of the constellation Ursa Major (Big Bear,
Old ulan: Witranahtaskaio

ulan: Vetranttskei
The summer is buried the 1st Sunday after the 1st full
Moon after the Autumnal Equinox. It is sent on a
voyage, which the Sun takes every night, in a boat or a
ship which is set ablaze and sent out on the ocean in the
West, across the river/sea of forgetfulness. Those
who live inland burn a boat on land or build a boat with
alias Big Dipper).
stones and bury the remains (i. e. the mistletoe) there.
Livestock Weekend ()
burial mound instead, or to a river, which will bring it to
The remains are some places carried into a cave or
On the night of the 14th to the 15th day of

Gladaskaimas
the ocean.
Winter Night Weekend/Reflection Day ()
Ancient ulan: Buperohalgas
On the night of the 28th day of wadalas
Old ulan: BuperahalgaR
Ancient ulan: Witranesuhalgas
ulan: Bfjrhelgr
Unnamed domestic animals are given a name.
Old ulan: WitranahtahalgaR
() The livestock is collected from pasture and is
The last day of the year is spent washing,
brought to the barn or to the North end of the long

house.
ulan: Vetrantthelgr
contemplating and cleaning the house. This is done for
man to be able to meet the next year clean, purified and
ready for new tasks. Free of guilt.
The Autumnal Equinox ()

On the night of the 22nd day of rmakaimas
Romantic Traditions
Ancient ulan: Kaustebnadgrie
The May King is the strong man protecting the
Old ulan: Haustebnadgrija
innocent maiden from the ills of the world. This is of
ulan: Haustjafndgri
All the children and May King challengers do their
best to find and cut down a mistletoe from an oak tree,
for use in the Hallow Evening ritual.
course the origin to the chivalry we know from our own

world,
where
honourable
knights
carried
the
handkerchiefs of their chosen maidens on their lances

or sleeves during tournaments and doing so they
The May King ceremonially cuts down the mistletoe

from the oak tree to take and be able to use the power
carried their hearts on their sleeves, openly showing

whom they favoured amongst all the maidens.
of the summer stored therein, to use it in the interest of

the whole society. See the skill Alchemy.
() This day marks the end of harvest; all berries, fruit
and all crops are now harvested. Everyone carries a
Page 229
One rotten apple spoils the barrel.
The High Festivals
The Religion
Kaimadalas Birthday (s o)
Hallow Evening (alias Samhain) (s o)

On the night of the 1st of Walaskelbi, New Year's
Day to Sunday morning. Every leap year it lasts for
Wisdom begins in wonder.
two days.
Ancient ulan: Kawlauge aptanas ("the evening
when you see the important/high")
Yule (Wheel) (s o)
Old ulan: Hawlauge aptanaR
From the night of the 25th of Kemenaberga to the
ulan: Hlgi aptann
night of the 8th of Landawtus
A hunting party led by (a priest impersonating) Wal
Ancient ulan: Wehl
sets out to kill predatory animals, and in particular
Old ulan: Wela.
bears and wolves. Those who want to become
ulan: Jl
Einherjar/Valkyrjur must succeed in killing their (new?)
Is made up of the high festivals Winter Solstice;
totem animals in this Wild Hunt. Priests and warrior-
Ragnarok and Fire Tasting Day, and the days
priests who want a (new) totem animal must also kill their
inbetween.
totem animals in this religious hunt. The successful

hunters must then (be able to) ask for the favour
Totem Animal to gain the power of the animal they
managed to kill. See the spell Totem Animal. The
Wild Hunt lasts until the Bear Evening. The winter
spirits are thus killed and their power and life force
taken for better use.
Winter Solstice (s o)
Ancient ulan: Witraswilihwarb
Old ulan: Witrasuwilihwarba.
ulan: Vetraslhvarf
The lady of the house walks three times around the
house deasils with a pine (pinus sylvestris) wand and
Bear Evening (s o)
declares (with song) that all the light elves (i. e. the
On the night of the 9 of Walaskelbi

th
spirits of the dead relatives) are welcome to visit during
Ancient ulan: Bernukwildas
the Yule tide. The Sun rising on the Winter Solstice
Old ulan: BernukwildaR
morning enters the innermost burial chamber and
ulan: Bjrnakveldr
This is seen as the day the bear hibernates and
because of that the day Kadnus is sent to the realm of
death (because of the Wild Hunt). Victory over the
winter spirits is declared.
awakens the light elves. They join the priest

impersonating Kaimadalas on his visit to the living (to
deliver gifts to those who deserve them), eats the
decorative food (made especially for them) and sleeps
in the beds of the living (who are to sleep on the floor
this night).
The Winter Solstice is also the birthday of the Sky
The man that walks his own road, walks
god Dwus, and is celebrated like other birthdays.
alone.
Wal's Birthday (s o)
On the night of the 13th of Walaskelbi
The
aspiring
Einherjar
and
Valkyrjur,
who
successfully killed their totem animals during the Wild

Hunt, gain their new role on this day.
Page 230
Seek never to draw to yourself in lovewhispering another's wife.
The High Festivals
The light elves and others, led by the priest
participating. On this day man fights his own
impersonating Kaimadalas, travel from farm to farm
weaknesses and mistakes. He fights his own shadows.
throughout the Yuletide, and chases away bad (winter)
He defeats them at midnight and he therefore gives a
spirits and shadows (who were also able to rise from the
promise to be better from then on (known today as a
grave, when the lady of the house called for the dead
New Year's Promise).
to rise) with fire. See Trolls (The Creatures &

Phenomena of ul
Fire Tasting Day (s o)
Ragnarok (s o)
Ancient ulan: Eldbirgedagas
On the night of the 7. Landawtus
Old ulan: EldabirgedagaR
Ancient ulan: Ragnarankas
ulan: Eldbjrgdagr
Old ulan: RagnarankaR
The day after Ragnarok they celebrate the victory
ulan: Ragnark
On Ragnarok everyone participates in a great battle
on what is called the Wegaras ("the ride of the dead",
"the weighing of the dead"). They dress up and travel
into the forest to scare away and fight the shadows and
the winter spirits who killed Belus on the Autumnal
Equinox. One group represents the gods and another
the winter spirits and a great play shows how the gods
defeat the winter spirits, enabling Belus and the
summer to return.
over winter and their own inner shadows. Because of

the mysteries the Sun/Swilus will regain his strength
and summer/Belus can return. The lady of the house
walks three times around the house widdershins with a
juniper (juniperus communis) wand and declares (with
song) that all the spirits of the dead have been sent
back to the realm of Keli.
The Sun is starting to grow stronger, after winter
Solstice, and the lady drinks beer from a bowl and
throws the rest into the fire before she says something
The army of gods then chases the winter spirits (who
like: So high my fire, and not higher or hotter, to make
were responsible for the death of Belus on the
sure the Sun's fire does not become too strong and
Autumnal Equinox) and shadows through the forest
burns up the entire world.
wielding flaming torches. They tear the animal

hides/costumes from the winter warrior actors and
trample on them. They then carry the naked actors to
Wtanas Birthday (s o)
the sacrificial tree on the burial mound, where their
Hell-Horse (s o)
clothes still hang. The gods then resurrect them; they
On the night of the 11th day of Sinkwabankis
are given colours, a spirit and a mind from Wanas,
Ancient ulan: Kelihastas
Dunus and Prius. Once resurrected they are given a
Old ulan: HaljhastaR
drink of mead or ale, served to them according to rank
ulan: Helhestr
by the lady of the house.
Everyone dresses in white clothes and wears flower
The animal hides and costumes they wore, the symbols

of the winter spirits, remain dead and thus winter is
killed and summer/Belus can return. This is how the
Religious men kill the winter and enable the summer to
return.
This is the final battle between summer and winter, but
garlands. They walk in procession from farm to farm,

singing and carrying torches as symbols of the
purifying fire. The party takes the decorative food
that was left after Yule and offers it to individuals they
meet. This is how they purify the homes and throw out
the last remaining spirits that may be hiding there.
also between the fertile and the dangerous in each man

Page 231
The High Festivals
The bear is said to turn in her lair on this day, and
Ancient ulan: Kwetdrontinadagas
therefore Keli (alias Hel) changes her mind and will
Old ulan: HwetadruntinasdagaR
let Belus return anyway, because Keli can see the
ulan: Hvtadrttinadagr
snow melting (i. e. the entire world crying for Belus).
The whole day is spent collecting pork, eggs and
Keli sends a horse from Kelikaimas (best known to
baked goods for the great bride's race. Everyone
us as Hell) to deliver the happy message.
dresses in white and the women wear many-coloured

ribbons and flower garlands. The party travels from
Sagi's Birthday (s o)
farm to farm, dancing and singing as they travel. The
On the night of the 13th day of Sinkwabankis
youngest Maenad (and if they have one, also the

Bacchante) is riding a wagon. When they stop to ask
All Heart's Day (s o)
for food donations the youngest Maenad is the one
On the night of the 22nd day of Sinkwabankis
doing the talking. The ladies and girls sing "Bride,
Ancient ulan: Alrurhertdagas
bride, most beautiful bride", to invite all beautiful noble
Old ulan: AlrurhertudagaR
girls to the bride's race, and the men encourage all
ulan: Alrahjartudagr
This day is seen as the day the birds start to mate.
The birds are seen as manifestations of the deities.
This is the day all the gods and goddesses fall in love;
in the realm of death, on the Earth, under the surface
of the Earth and in the Sky. Those in love give a
noble men they meet to show up. The men and boys
wear women's clothes (robes) and the women and girls
men's clothes on the upper body, to represent the
androgynous spirits of nature. This custom is archaic,
but is still practised.
romantic gift to the one they love.
White Tuesday (s o)
White Sunday Week (alias Imbolc) (s o)
Ancient ulan: Kwetdiwadagas
On the night of the 3rd day of rukaimas.
From the night of the 1st to the night of the 7th day of
rukaimas
ulan: Hvtatysdagr
Ancient ulan: Kwetsunuweke
A carnival (Latin: "farewell to the meat") is arranged
Old ulan: Hwetasunuwekn
and all the food collected the day before is eaten. If the
ulan: Hvtasunnuvika
White Sunday Week is made up of White Sunday,
White Queen Monday, White Tuesday, Ash
Wednesday, Cleaning Thursday, Long Friday and
Dirty Saturday.
both are dead: a priest of the realm) asks all worthy

nobles to compete for the May King /May Queen
title. The men compete in a number of games, including
games and the like. If there is a tie the two best
competitors decide who is to become the winner by
On the night of the 1st day of rukaimas
engaging in a wrestling or boxing match. A bride's race
is arranged, a beauty contest for the aspiring May
Queens, and the king (and if there are none: the winner
ulan: Hvtasunnudagr
This is the first day of spring and the day the Hellhorse arrives. Everyone thanks Keli for promising to
White Queen Monday (s o)
realms king or queen is dead, the queen or king (and if
ring games (knight's games), word games, knowledge
White Sunday (s o)
return Belus and decorates with birch branches.
Old ulan: HwetatiwadagaR
of the men's competition) selects a winner by giving an

apple to the one he thinks is the most beautiful, or a
Maenad (chosen by lottery) of the realm must choose
one based on the beauty of the aspiring queen.
On the night of the 2nd day of rukaimas

Page 232
The High Festivals
The winner becomes the May King/Queen and will
Unnamed domestic animals and unnamed children are
later become the new king/queen of the realm. See the
named this day and the children are given five strokes
Valborgs Night festival.
with a birch branch on their behinds, to make them

strong and to purify them.
In some Religious communities all the aspiring

Bacchantes and the Bacchante in that community
Long Friday (s o)
(there are never more than one in each community)
compete in a number of (identical) games too, for the
Ancient ulan: Langapridagas
right to be the Bacchante in that community. Only the
Old ulan: LangafraujudagaR
winner is allowed to become (or remain) a Bacchante.
ulan: Langfreyjudagr
The children are given five more strokes with a birch
A bride's race is arranged for the aspiring Maenads,
branch on their behinds, to make them strong and to
and the winner of the men's competition selects a
purify them. No one is allowed to eat anything until
winner by giving an apple to the one he thinks is the
Sunset and everyone must work the whole day.
most beautiful. If there are none (some societies dont

have Bacchantes) a Maenad (chosen by lottery) must
Dirty Saturday (s o)
choose one based on the beauty of the aspiring
Maenads. Only one new Maenad can join their cult
Ancient ulan: Sketenkaimadaladagas
every year (in any Religious community). A player with
Old ulan: SketenahaimadaladagaR
a character who wants to become a Maenad can cast a
ulan: Skitinlaugardagr
D6 and add the character's Cha * 2. The myth master
On this day they all wash themselves and their homes
can do the same for the aspiring Maenad NPCs. The
particularly well. The spring has come and you are to
best result wins.
meet it with respect.
Ash Wednesday (s o)
Dunus Birthday (s o)
Ancient ulan: Askudagas

Old ulan: AskudagaR
Sword Dance (s o)
ulan: skudagr
On the night of the 22nd day of rukaimas, the 1st
The lent starts and lasts until Easter (the 22 nd day of
day of Nwadun, the 8th day of Nwadun, the 15th
Braidblika). Everyone puts ash in their hair and
day of Nwadun, the 22nd day of Nwadun, the 1st
abstain from eating meat until Easter. Everyone
day of Gltnias, the 8th day of Gltnias and the 15th day
dresses in their darkest clothes and do not sing, play
of Gltnias
music or dance until the lent ends. See Special to
Ancient ulan: Swardadans
Religious Characters (Character Generation &
Old ulan: SwardadanR
Development).
ulan: Sverdanz
Cleaning Thursday (s o)
Ancient ulan: Skrdunadagas
Old ulan: SkraunadagaR
A Sword Dance is a training battle between the

summer and the winter and the summer always wins.
The boys and men split into two groups, representing
summer and winter.
ulan: Skrarsdagr
Page 233
The High Festivals
The summer warriors dress in leaves and wield hammers,
and therefore one can freely enjoy the fruits of Edun
axes, sickles, sword-scythes, seaxes et cetera. The
again. NB! This fruit does not have the qualities of
winter warriors dress in the hides from predatory
the fruit from Edun's tree in Braidblika, but is just a
(winter) animals and throw ash. The men and boys wear
general name for the fruit of nature.
women's
clothes
(robes),
to
represent
the
androgynous spirits of nature. This custom is archaic,
Procession Day Weekend (o)
but is still practised.
On the night of the 26th day of Braidblika to the

night of the 28th day of Braidblika
Ancient ulan: Gangadagahalgas
Vernal Equinox (s o)
Old ulan: GangadagahalgaR
Ancient ulan: Waharebnadgrie
ulan: Gangdagahelgr
Old ulan: Waharebnadgrija
Is made up of Procession Day, Second Day Summer
ulan: Vrjafndgri
and Third Day Summer.
st
Nature's fertility is celebrated this day and all noble

children who become adults that year are given the
Procession Day/Summer Day (o)
right to vote.

Ancient ulan: Gangdagas/Sumardagas
Everyone stops lighting candles or oil lamps in the
Old ulan: GangadagaR/SumaradagaR
evening and go to bed at Sunset.
ulan: Gangdagr/Sumardagr
The youngest Maenad leads a procession of maidens,
The Vernal Equinox is also the birthday of Er and
decorated with flower garlands. She rides a wagon and
is celebrated like the other birthdays (during lent).
is pulled three time around the fields, to bless the fields

herself (taking the role of a goddess). She carries a
Belus Birthday (s o)
torch, to scare away the harmful spirits and she waters
the fields with water from a sacred source. She places
th
food and beer to the spirits of the field, who eat and
Easter (s o)
drink this in the form of animals. Finally she digs a small
On the night of the 22 day of Braidblika to the 25

nd
th
hole in the ground and pours some corn of all types into
day of Braidblika
the hole. She mixes it with eggs and stirs with a yew or
Ancient ulan: Eus
spruce wand. She then sings a song:
Old ulan: AustaR

ulan: Austr
The Easter morning (the 22nd day of Braidblika) is
seen as the day Belus (and his wife Edun) returns
from Kelikaimas, at dawn (hence the name Easter).
Everyone celebrates by travelling into the mountains
to watch the Sunrise. It is customary to bring round
stones and build beacons, to help the round Sun rise
high and fly across the firmament. Eggs and all the
dried fruit and berries and other candy left after winter
are eaten.
"Wake up, wake up, both field and meadow,

you have slept for a long time now
we have seen both rain and snow
the summer night has come now."
Second Day Summer (o)
Ancient ulan: Anaradagas sumar
Old ulan: AnaradagaR sumaran
ulan: Annaradagr sumar
This candy is the fruit of Edun; summer has returned
is repeated.
Page 234
The High Festivals
Third Day Summer (o)
to farmers this day also marks the transition from
hunting time to sowing time.
Ancient ulan: redegadas sumar
Cuckoo Day (s o)
th
On the night of the 15th day of Nwadun
Old ulan: rededagaR sumaran
Ancient ulan: Gaukdagas
ulan: rijadagr sumar

is repeated.
Old ulan: GaukadagaR

ulan: Gaukdagr
The gods (in the form of birds) speak to man on this
Great Procession Day (o)
day and tell him how the year will be. If he hears the
cuckoo in the North everything will go according to his
Ancient ulan: Kawgangadagas
will. If he hears it in the South he will harvest in dry
Old ulan: HawgangadagaR
weather. If he hears it in the West someone in his kin
ulan: Hrgangdagr
is repeated. This is also a Sword Dance.
will die or fall sick. If he hears it in the East it means

happiness in marriage.
The Cuckoo Day is also a Sword Dance.
Valborg's Night (alias Beltane) (s o)
Great Valborg's Night (s o)

Ancient ulan: Walpurgisnes ("The Night on the
Mountain of the Chosen/Fallen")
On the night of the 27. Nwadun

Ancient ulan: Kawwalpurgisnes
Old ulan: Hawwalabergasnahti
Old ulan: Walabergasnahti
ulan: Hrvalbjrgsntt
ulan: Valbjrgsntt
This is a day of marriage. On this day all the deities
This day is a Sword Dance.
marry.
Bear Wake (s o)
If the king and/or queen is dead, and a new May
Queen and/or May King has been found (see White

Tuesday), they enter the royal burial mound: when
they leave the burial mound, as the Sun rises, holding
the regalia (with the same powers as the attributes of
the Traditional May couple. See Valborgs Night
under The Tradition) they collected within, they
Ancient ulan: Bernuwak

Old ulan: Bernuwaka
ulan: Bjrnvaka
On this day the bear wakes up and leaves his lair. The
winter spirit has in other words risen from the grave, and
is ready to abduct and kill Belus again.
become the new king/queen of the realm. They then
Everyone who enters a temple between Bear Wake
marry and rule until they die. See the Sol Invictus
and the Autumnal Equinox must first have their hands
comment (page 115).
tied with a rope or thread, to make it impossible for
Everyone who marries does so in a temple: they swear

their oaths on a rock/hammer or a ring and the
them to kill the deity (i. e. cut the mistletoe from the
sacred tree of the temple).
This day is the first day of the legal discussions at the
ceremony is led by the youngest Maenad.

This is also the birthday of Nerus so everyone
dances and sings around the burial mounds and the
deity (i. e. a priestess impersonating Nerus) rises
ing (parliament) where only the nobles with a right to

vote can (and are obliged to) attend. The ing lasts
until the end of Gltnias.
This day is also a Sword Dance.
naked and young from the burial mound.

A married man no longer needs to look for a bride, so
Page 235
No friend is he who but flatters.
The High Festivals
Pirsit's Birthday (s o)
Summer Solstice (s o)
On the night of the 13th day of Pulkawangis

Ancient ulan: Sumarasowilihwarb
Old ulan: Sumarasuwilihwarba.
White Sunday (s o)
On the night of the 15 day of Gltnias
ulan: Sumarslhvarf
(o)The youngest Maenad leads a procession of
maidens, decorated with flower garlands. She rides a
ulan: Hvtasunnudagr
wagon and is pulled three time around the fields, to
NB! This day is called by the same name as the White
cleanse the fields and protect them from the newly
Sunday of the White Sunday Week!
awoken winter spirits. She carries a torch, to scare
th
away the harmful spirits and she waters the fields with
This day is a Sword Dance.
water from a sacred source. She places food and beer

to the spirits of the field, who eat and drink this in the
White Sunday marks the end of Easter. Belus and
form of animals. Finally she digs a small hole in the
everything connected with the summer is now back.
ground and pours some corn (or eggs) of all types into
the hole. She (mixes it with eggs and) stirs with a yew
Source Drinking (s o)
or spruce wand. She then sings a song:
On the night of the 1st day of Pulkawangis

Ancient ulan: Kildodrenko
ulan: Keldadrikka

Figures resembling Pri and Prius made of leaves are
Old ulan: Kildadrenka
placed by the sacred sources.

(s o) Bonfires are lit along the coast, and everyone
The water you drink on this day heals diseases (giving
dances around the burial mounds. The Maenads and
a +2D6 mod to Disease resistance and a new test
other maidens, in particular the maidens born the 13 th
against the PL of the disease to see if the disease is
day of Pulkawangis, undress and walk into the water.
neutralised [no adverse consequences are possible!])
When they ascend from the sea with the reflection of
and wounds (1 dose of water drunk reduces injury level
the many bonfires on their wet skin (an image of Pri's
by one after D6 minutes).
necklace of fire) they represent the (re-)born Pri,

born by Nerus the sea. The maidens then jump
It is possible to collect water from the sacred sources
naked through the flames of the bonfires to prove their
for later use. Collecting more than a waterskin (able to
courage and to be purified by Swilus (the sacred fire).
hold 2 cans/64 doses) is regarded as disrespectful of

nature and is frowned upon (and anyone who does so
will gain no favour or divine aid from the deities until all
the water has been spent/wasted). Pregnant women
who drink a dose of water from the sacred source are
more (+D6 mod) likely to survive childbirth (Con test
against DD 9).
This day is also a Sword Dance.
Page 236
Graves are of all sizes.
The High Festivals
The Summer Solstice is the birthday of Pri and
spirit (in the form of a goat made from straw) is killed
Swilus and is in addition to the above celebrated like
and chopped into seven or fourteen pieces, or it is
other birthdays
burnt, and the remains are buried in the field or the four
Water drunk from a sacred source on the Summer

Solstice night has the same effect as water drunk
during Source Drinking. See the high festival Source
Drinking.
corners of the field. The first straw cut down is used to

make a new straw goat for next year's Harvest
Sacrifice.
The corn spirit is really the same as Prius, but even
though the crop spirit is celebrated as a deity in
The Day of Cleaning and Waking up (s o)
Religious societies they too sacrifice the old symbols
On the night of the 22 day of Pulkawangis

nd
Ancient ulan: Swiptasinkwodagas ("Sink into

water and purify day")
Old ulan: SwibtasinkwadagaR
of the crop spirit: first and foremost the (straw) goat.

Old traditions die hard.
A man impersonating Prius is (symbolically) killed by
ulan: Syftesokdagr
(o)The youngest Maenad leads a procession of
maidens, decorated with flower garlands. She rides a
wagon and is pulled three time around the fields, to
cleanse the fields and protect them from the newly
awoken winter spirits. She carries a torch, to scare
away the harmful spirits and she waters the fields with
water from a sacred source. She places food and beer
to the spirits of the field, who eat and drink this in the
form of animals. Finally she digs a small hole in the
ground and pours some corn of all types into the hole.
She mixes it with eggs and stirs with a yew or spruce
wand. She then sings a song:
the warriors, who (seem to) cut him down with curved
short swords, sickles, sword-scythes and seaxes, in a
Sword Dance for adults only. This is his purpose; to
grow crops, to wake up and then be cut down so that
man can bake bread. A cone or a bread is then cut into
seven or fourteen pieces and buried along with him in
the field or the four corners of the field along with the
pieces of the straw goat.
Wanas Birthday (s o)
On the night of the 13th day of Gladaskaimas
Livestock Weekend (s o)

On the night of the 14th to the 15th day of

Gladaskaimas
Ancient ulan: Buperohalgas
Old ulan: BuperahalgaR

ulan: Bfjrhelgr
(s o) This day is also a Sword Dance.
(o) The livestock is collected from pasture and is

brought to the barn or to the North end of the long
Prius Birthday (s o)
On the night of the 13th day of Albkaimas
house.
Harvest Sacrifice (alias Lughnassadh & Sltteblot)
(s o) Unnamed animals are given a name.
( o)
On the night of the 15th day of Albkaimas
Ancient ulan: Slantupluto
The lame runs if he has to.
Old ulan: Slantubluta

ulan: Slttublt
This day marks the beginning of the harvest. The corn
Page 237
The High Festivals
Skan's Birthday (s o)
Kadnus Birthday (s o)
On the night of the 13 day of rmakaimas
th
The Autumnal Equinox (s o)

On the night of the 22nd day of rmakaimas
Ancient ulan: Kaustebnadgrie
Not every bird can be an eagle (some are
Old ulan: Haustebnadgrija
just cuckoos).
ulan: Haustjafndgri
(o) This day marks the end of harvest; all berries, fruit
and all crops are now harvested. Everyone carries a
wreath made of sheaves of corn. The last corn
harvested is used for this.
Usually on the night of the 22nd day of wadalas
(s o) The spirits of winter have escapes the realm of

death, and now they kill Belus again and bite the hand
off Dwus.
and is celebrated like other birthdays. The Autumnal

Equinox is followed by a lent lasting until Winter Night
Ship.
Old ulan: Witranahtaskaio

ulan: Vetranttskei
after the Autumnal Equinox. He (i. e. pieces of oak
wood) is sent on a voyage, which the Sun takes every
night, in a boat or a ship which is set ablaze and sent
out on the ocean in the West, across the river/sea of
forgetfulness. Those who live inland burn a boat on
A play shows how Kadnus fires a wand (made from a

mistletoe) on Belus (representing the summer) with a
bow. The latter falls down, pretending to be dead.
The purpose of this is to show that the Seimenn and
their Traditional followers (represented here by
Kadnus) are responsible for killing Belus. Another
play shows how the deities try to tie up the wolf deity
Kadnus (alias Fanjarias) after he has killed Belus, but
one of them, Dwus, loses a hand in the process. This
shows how the Traditional men refuse to abide by the
laws of the Religious society, and how they, because of
their lack of respect for the deities, causes everything
under the sky to suffer.
land or build a boat with stones and bury the remains

there. In some places the remains are carried into a cave
or burial mound instead, or to a river, which will bring it
to the ocean.
A play shows how Belus is placed in a ship along with
his wife and how Dunus (represented by a priest)
blesses the ship with his hammer before it is sent on its
journey across the sea.
Winter Night Weekend/Reflection Day (s o)
Ancient ulan: Witranesuhalgas
Old ulan: WitranahtahalgaR
Everyone is sad, wears dark clothes (regardless of

social class), plays no music and doesn't dance for the
Where there is smoke there is fire.
Ancient ulan: Witranesuskai
Belus is buried the 1st Sunday after the 1st full Moon
The Autumnal Equinox is also the birthday of Man
duration of the lent.
Winter Night Ship (s o)
ulan: Vetrantthelgr
The last day of the year is spent washing,
contemplating and cleaning the house. This is done for
man to be able to meet the next year clean, purified and
ready for new tasks. Free of guilt.
Page 238
The High Festivals
Rebirth
First Day (s o)
The dead buried on land are buried in a foetal position
Ancient ulan: Pyrstadagas
or sitting up with all their valuable possessions,
Old ulan: FurstadagaR
because they want to be reborn. In Traditional
ulan: Fyrstadagr
communities they assume that the better and more
Each new month is greeted by the lady/lord of the
valuable equipment they have, the more likely they are
house on the first day of the month, when the Sun
to be chosen by a child to be reborn. In Religious
rises. The months connected to gods by the lord, and
communities the dead are always reborn in the kin;
the months connected to goddesses by the lady. They
when a new kinsman is born he will be given the name of
greet the deities and wish them welcome into their lives.
a dead family member and will thus become him.
Hvaml, stanza 11
As you sow, so you shall reap.
Byri betri
berr-at mar brauta at,
en s mannvit mikit;
vegnast verra
vegr-a hann velli at
en s ofdrykkja ls.
(You can not carry
a better burden,
than much wits,
but worse provision
you can not bring
than too much beer drunk.)
Still waters run deep.
Page 239

The Pagan High Festivals

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Pagan High Festivals

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The High Festivals

Mythic Fantasy Role-playing Game

The ulan Calendar

K emenaberga Hemenaberga Himinnbj rg

Landawt us LandawduR - Landvi

Sinkwabankis SinkwabankiR Skkvabekkr

ruo kaimas ruo haimaR - r heimr

Braido blika Brai o blika Brei ablik

N owaduno N o wat una N at un

Glt nias Glt nijaR Glt nir

Pulkawangis FulkawangiR Fo lkvangr

Albo kaimas AlbahaimaR Alfheimr

rmakaimas rmahaimaR rmheimr

Gladaskaimas Gla ashaimaR Gla sheimr

N uhieradagas N uhierasdagaR N yt t rsdagr

wadalas wadalaR dalir

The High Festivals

Mythic Fantasy Role-playing Game

Rather than just describe the high festivals in ul we

from a sacred source) is placed next to or under the

need to separate between the Religious and the

head of the dead person, to protect him from

Traditional high festivals, and sometimes also between

malevolent spirits trying to possess his body. The

old and new practises.

malevolent spirits are very stupid and can only count to

three, so if more than three corns or pebbles are placed

The Old Religion (s)

The Religion (o)

The Old Tradition ()

corns/pebbles to ever be able to possess the body.

Before all (both Traditional and Religious) high

spirits. See the spells Create Wight and Create Nr.

A May pole, a so-called high, is also always erected on

Ancient ulan: Bruhdihlaupo

Ancient ulan: Kawlauge aptanas ("the evening

Old ulan: Brudihlaupa

when you see the important/high")

Old ulan: Hawlauge aptanaR

ulan: Hlgi aptann

festival Valborg's Night, and always on a Sunday.

In order to get a name for themselves and become real

Most normal weddings are held on Valborg's Night.

men (finally removing the -12 mod to Healing given to

through an initiation. See the Autumnal Equinox.

Ancient ulan: Kaunapore

(Religious children automatically get rid of this when

Old ulan: Haugforija

they are defined as adults, i. e. when they are around

15-16 years old.)

the summer/Belus on the high festival Winter Night

Those who have no mistletoe must wait until the next

Ship, and always on the 1 Sunday after the 1 full

years Hallow Evening before they can go through this

Moon after death. If placed in a burial mound, a jar with

corn or pebbles (collected on the Summer Solstice

The High Festivals

Mythic Fantasy Role-playing Game

They dress up to look like the dead and travel to the

womb in order for her to give birth to them later on. If

burial caves or burial mounds (i. e. man-made caves) to

they manage to kill a bear or another predatory animal

collect the weapons and other valuable possessions

within nine days, before Sunrise on the 9th day of